Locomotive Sand Plow System

ABSTRACT

A sand plow system for a locomotive is described. The sand plow system may comprise an adjustable plow configured for vertical adjustment between a lowered position in which the adjustable plow is in contact with the rails and a raised position in which the adjustable plow is suspended above the rails. The sand plow system may further comprise a fixed plow disposed axially forward of the adjustable plow with respect to a longitudinal axis of the locomotive. The fixed plow may be vertically raised above the rails by a distance of less than 150 millimeters.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to plow systems and, more specifically, relates to sand plow systems for locomotives.

BACKGROUND

Trains that operate in sandy environments or in adverse weather conditions may experience sand, snow, or ice buildup on the rails in front of the train. For example, drifting sand dunes may cause sand buildup on the rails in front of trains that operate in desert environments. If not suitably removed, the sand may lead to wheel wear on locomotives, or even potential derailment.

A locomotive snow plow system for clearing snow from the rails has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,601,533. This snow plow system includes two vertically adjustable shovels positioned over the rails, as well as two adjustable wings extending from the sides of the shovels. Although locomotive snow plow systems such as this are well-documented, there remains a need for improved locomotive plow systems specially designed for use with sand.

If not adequately designed, sand plows on locomotives risk becoming engulfed with sand, which may require the locomotive to stop so that the plows can be manually cleaned. In principle, a sand plow system for a locomotive should be capable of effectively removing both bulk sand piles in front of the locomotive, as well as any residual sand remaining on the rails after the bulk piles of sand have been cleared out of the way. Moreover, the design of a locomotive sand plow system should be adjusted according to varying sand properties in different geographical locations. For example, the angle of repose (a) of the sand (i.e., the steepest angle of ascent that a pile of sand may achieve with respect to the ground without sliding) may vary significantly in different geographical regions. As the plowing capability of a sand plow system may be influenced by the angle of repose (a) of the sand, the design of a locomotive sand plow system should accommodate the angle of repose (a) of the sand though which it is intended to plow. The present disclosure addresses these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a sand plow system for a locomotive configured for movement with respect to rails is disclosed. The sand plow system may comprise an adjustable plow configured for vertical adjustment between a lowered position in which the adjustable plow is in contact with the rails and a raised position in which the adjustable plow is suspended above the rails. The sand plow system may further comprise a fixed plow disposed axially forward of the adjustable plow with respect to a longitudinal axis of the locomotive. The fixed plow may be vertically elevated above the rails by a distance of less than 150 millimeters.

In another refinement, the sand plow system may include a set of the adjustable plows.

In another refinement, the sand plow system may include a set of the fixed plows.

In another refinement, the set of the fixed plows may comprise two fixed front plows disposed axially forward of and vertically higher than a fixed rear plow spanning laterally across the locomotive. Each of the two fixed front plows may be disposed vertically above one of the rails.

In another refinement, a bottom edge of the fixed rear plow may be vertically elevated above the rails by a distance of between about 64 millimeters and less than 150 millimeters.

In another refinement, the fixed rear plow may include a first panel and a second panel joined at a junction to form a V-shape.

In another refinement, each of the first panel, the second panel, and the two fixed front plows may be angled with respect to one of the rails to define a sweep angle (θ) of between about 30° and about 45°.

In another refinement, the sweep angle (θ) may be about 32.5°.

In another refinement, each of the two fixed front plows and the fixed rear plow may include an upper portion and a curl extending laterally across the upper portion.

In another refinement, the set of the adjustable plows may include two adjustable plows each disposed over one of the rails.

In another refinement, each of the two adjustable plows may be angled with respect to one of the rails to define a sweep angle (θ) of between about 30° and about 45°.

In another refinement, the sweep angle (θ) of each of the two adjustable plows may be about 37.5°.

In another refinement, each of the two adjustable plows may include an upper portion and a curl extending laterally across the upper portion.

In another refinement, each of the two adjustable plows may include a bottom portion and a replaceable panel configured for removable attachment to the bottom portion. The replaceable panel may be substantially flat and may extend downwardly from the bottom portion for contact with the rails in the lowered position.

In another refinement, the replaceable panel may be formed from polyurethane.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a locomotive configured for movement with respect to rails is disclosed. The locomotive may comprise a chassis, a plurality of wheels mounted to the chassis and configured to ride along the rails, and an engine generally associated with the wheels to drive the wheels. The locomotive may further comprise a sand plow system attached to at least one of a front end and a back end of the locomotive. The sand plow system may comprise an adjustable plow configured for vertical adjustment between a lowered position in which the adjustable plow is in contact with the rails and a raised position in which the adjustable plow is suspended above the rails. The sand plow system may further comprise a fixed plow disposed axially forward of the adjustable plow with respect to a longitudinal axis of the locomotive. The fixed plow may be vertically elevated above the rails by a distance of less than 150 millimeters.

In another refinement, the sand plow system may comprise a set of the adjustable plows and a set of the fixed plows. The set of fixed plows may include a fixed rear plow spanning laterally across the locomotive and having a bottom edge vertically elevated above one of the rails by a distance of less than 150 millimeters. The set of fixed plows may further include fixed front plows disposed axially forward of the rear fixed plow with respect to the longitudinal axis.

In another refinement, each of the fixed front plows, the fixed rear plow, and each of the adjustable plows may include an upper portion and a curl extending laterally across the upper portion.

In another refinement, the set of the adjustable plows may be adapted to vertically adjust to the lowered position in response to a trainline request sent through a 27 pin multi-unit cable.

In another refinement, a method for plowing sand on rails in front of a locomotive with a sand plow system attached to a forward-facing end of the locomotive is disclosed. The method may comprise: 1) lowering a set of adjustable plows to a lowered position in which the adjustable plows are in contact with the rails, 2) removing a portion of the sand with a set of fixed plows disposed axially forward of the set of adjustable plows with respect to a longitudinal axis of the locomotive, and vertically elevated above the rails by a distance of less than 150 millimeters, and 3) removing a remaining portion of the sand on the rails with the set of adjustable plows in the lowered position.

These and other aspects and features of the present disclosure will be more readily understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is side view of a locomotive having a sand plow system attached to a front end and a back end of the locomotive, constructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the sand plow system of FIG. 1 shown in relation to rails, constructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the sand plow system of FIG. 2 shown in isolation, constructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a front view of an adjustable plow of the sand plow system, constructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is top view of a single plow of the sand plow system showing a sweep angle (A) between the plow and a rail, constructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a pile of sand showing an angle of repose of the sand, constructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a sample sequence of steps which may be involved in plowing sand with the sand plow system, in accordance with a method of the present disclosure.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that the disclosed embodiments are sometimes illustrated schematically and in partial views. It is to be further appreciated that the following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses thereof. In this regard, it is to be additionally appreciated that the described embodiment is not limited to use with certain types of locomotives. Hence, although the present disclosure is, for convenience of explanation, depicted and described as certain illustrative embodiments, it will be appreciated that it can be implemented in various other types of embodiments and in various other systems and environments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, and with specific reference to FIG. 1, a locomotive 10 is shown. The locomotive 10 may be configured for movement with respect to rails 12. The locomotive 10 may be used as the prime mover for a freight train, or any other type of train. Although some features of the locomotive 10 are not shown in FIG. 1 for clarity purposes, it may generally consist of an operator cab 14, a fuel tank 16, a compartment 18 which may contain an engine and a generator, and a cooling compartment 20 with one or more access panels 22. It may also include truck assemblies 24 (or “bogies”) which may consist of wheels 25 and axles 27, as well as an underframe or chassis 26 which may rest on the truck assemblies 24. In addition, depending on load requirements, the locomotive 10 may be connected to one or more additional locomotives in a consist. Other structures and features of the locomotive 10 will be readily apparent to those with ordinary skill in the art. It will be understood that locomotives with different arrangements are also encompassed within the scope of this disclosure.

Notably, the locomotive 10 may have a sand plow system 28 attached to both a front end 30 and a back end 32 of the locomotive 10. The sand plow system 28 on the front end 30 and the sand plow system 28 on the back end 32 may be facing in opposite directions. Depending on the direction of travel, either the sand plow system 28 on the front end 30 or the sand plow system 28 on the back end 32 may be forward-facing. If the locomotive 10 is connected to other locomotives in a consist, each locomotive in the consist may have a sand plow system attached to a front end and a back end, as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the locomotive 10 may have a single sand plow system on either a front end or a back end and/or fewer than all of the locomotives in the consist may have a sand plow system attached thereto.

Turning now to FIGS. 2-3, the sand plow system 28 may consist of one or more adjustable plows 34, and one or more fixed plows 36 which may be positioned axially forward of the adjustable plows 34 with respect to a longitudinal axis 38 of the locomotive 10 (also see FIG. 1). The adjustable plows 34 and the fixed plows 36 may be formed from a metallic material or another suitable material capable of withstanding high stress loads. The adjustable plows 34 may be vertically adjustable with respect to the rails 12 between a lowered position 40 in which the adjustable plows 34 may be in contact with the rails 12 (see FIG. 2), and a raised position in which the adjustable plows 34 may be suspended above the rails 12 by a vertical distance (see further details below). Although manually adjustable between different vertical heights (see further details below), the fixed plows 36 may be fixed at a given distance (d) above the rails 12, as best shown in FIG. 2. In operation, the fixed plows 36 may be responsible for removing any bulk piles of sand in front of the locomotive 10, while the adjustable plows 34 may be responsible for clearing any sand remaining on the rails 12 after fixed plows 36 have removed the majority of the sand out of the way.

The fixed plows 36 may consist of two fixed front plows 42 and a fixed rear plow 44, although this is only exemplary and other numbers and configurations are possible. The fixed front plows 42 may be disposed axially forward of and vertically higher than the fixed rear plow 44. In addition, each of the two fixed plows 42 may be positioned above one of the rails 12, as best shown in FIG. 2. The fixed rear plow 44 may consist of a unitary piece that spans laterally across the width of the locomotive 10. More specifically, it may include a first panel 46 and a second panel 48 which may be joined at a junction 50 to form a V-shaped structure with the junction 50 being positioned axially forward of the first panel 46 and the second panel 48 (see FIG. 3).

The fixed rear plow 44 may have a bottom edge 52 which may be vertically elevated above the rails 12 by a minimal distance (d) to minimize the sand loading on the adjustable plows 34 behind it. As one possibility, the vertical distance (d) between the bottom edge 52 and the rails 12 may be between about 64 millimeters and less than 150 millimeters, although other ranges are possible. Applicants have found that vertical distances (d) in this range provide more effective removal of bulk sand by the fixed plows 36, and assists in ensuring that the adjustable plows 34 do not get overloaded with sand.

The fixed plows 36 may be mechanically connected to the underframe 26 of the locomotive 10 via one or more supports 54, as best shown in FIG. 3. For example, a support 54 may be used to attach each of the fixed front plows 42 to the underframe 26, and two supports 54 may be used to attach the fixed rear plow 44 to the underframe 26, although other arrangements are also possible. In addition, each of the supports 54 may have slots (not shown) configured to receive bolts 55 to permit the manual adjustment of the vertical heights of either of the fixed front plows 42 and/or the fixed rear plow 44 as may be necessary due to wheel wear or variations in locomotive supplies. Once suitably adjusted, the fixed front plows 42 and/or the fixed rear plow 44 may be locked in the desired vertical position with the bolts 55, as shown.

The adjustable plows 34 may include two plows, each of which may be connected to a truck assembly 24 (or bogie), although other numbers of adjustable plows and connection arrangements are possible. In the lowered position 40, the adjustable plows 34 may contact the rails 12 to sweep any sand off the rails 12 and toward the side. Alternatively, the adjustable plows 34 may be in the raised position and elevated above the rails 12 when the sand plow system 28 is not in use. An actuator 56 may trigger the movement of the adjustable plows 34 between the raised position and the lowered position 40 upon activation of a switch (see further details below).

Referring now to FIG. 4, a single adjustable plow 34 is shown in isolation. It will be understood that both of the adjustable plows 34 in the set of adjustable plows share the features shown in FIG. 4 and described below. The adjustable plow 34 may have a body portion 58 which may be substantially flat and void of any protruding vertical members which may undesirably push the sand up the plows instead of toward the side of the rails 12. In addition, the adjustable plow 34 may include a replaceable panel 60 which may have a bottom edge 62 extending downwardly from a bottom portion 64 of the adjustable plow 34 for contact with the rails 12 in the lowered position 40. The replaceable panel 60 may be attached to the bottom portion 64 of the adjustable plow with a retention piece 66 and one or more bolts 68, as shown, although other attachment configurations are possible. The replaceable panel 60 may be substantially flat to facilitate sweeping of sand off of the rails 12. In addition, the replaceable panel 60 may be formed from a wearable material such as polyurethane or another suitable material such that it may wear away and protect the adjustable plow 34 from damage if there is any misalignment between the adjustable plow 34 and the rails 12. Furthermore, the replaceable panel 60 may be symmetrical, such that it may be flipped by 180° when the bottom edge 62 is worn to effectively double the useful life of the replaceable panel 60. Maintenance personnel may inspect the integrity of the replaceable panel 60 periodically, and may flip or replace it as deemed necessary.

In addition, the adjustable plow 34 may also include one or more slots 70 sized to receive one or more bolts 72 to permit the manual vertical height adjustment of the adjustable plow 34 as needed due to locomotive wheel wear or variations in locomotive supplies. Once adjusted to a desired vertical height, the adjustable plow 34 may be fixed in position with the bolt(s) 72. However, alternative mechanisms for height adjustment are certainly possible, with slots 70/bolts 72 being but one example.

FIG. 5 represents the orientation of a single plow 74 of the sand plow system 28 with respect to the rail 12. Namely, the plow 74 represents each of the adjustable plows 34, each of the fixed front plows 42, and the first panel 46 and the second panel 48 of the fixed rear plow 44. The plow 74 may be angled with respect to the rail 12 to define a sweep angle (A). Ideally, the sweep angle (A) between the plow 74 and the rail 12 may be set equal to or greater than an angle of repose (a) of the sand through which it is plowing (see FIG. 6) to promote the sweeping of the sand off of the rails 12. As is apparent to those with ordinary skill in the art, the angle of repose (a) is the steepest angle of ascent that a pile of sand may achieve with respect to the ground without sliding. As the angle of repose (a) may be a function of the properties of the sand which may, in turn, vary in different geographical regions, the sweep angle (A) of the plow 74 may be adjusted accordingly to optimize the sweeping capability of the sand plow system 28. Suitable sweep angles (A) may range from about 30° to about 45°, although sweep angles beyond this range may be used in some circumstances. As a non-limiting possibility, the adjustable plows 34 may have a sweep angle (A) of about 37.5°, and the fixed plows 36 (i.e., the fixed front plows 42 and the first panel 46/second panel 48 of the fixed rear plow 44) may have a sweep angle (A) of about 32.5°, although other angles are certainly possible.

In situations where design constraints (e.g., limited space, etc.) prevent the adjustable plows 34 and/or the fixed plows 36 from achieving a sweep angle (A) that is equal to or greater than the angle of repose (a) of the sand, sand may be pushed up and over the plows causing them to eventually become engulfed in sand. To counteract this effect, the adjustable plows 34 and the fixed plows 36 may each have an arc-shaped curl 76 extending laterally across an upper portion 78 (see FIG. 3) to guide the sand down the plows and off to the side of the rails 12. The degree of curvature of the curl 76 may range from about 20° to about 180°, although other angles of curvature are also possible. In general, however, the curvature of the curl 76 of each of the adjustable plows 34 may be more pronounced than the curvature of the curl 76 of each of the fixed plows 36 (see FIG. 3). In addition, the curl 76 of each of the adjustable plows 34 may gradually increase from an inner edge 80 (which may extend between the rails 12) to an outer edge 82 (which may extend radially outward from the rails 12), as best shown in FIG. 4. It will also be understood that the curl 76 may improve the performance of the sand plow system 28 even in situations where optimal sweep angles (A) may be achieved.

In operation, a series of steps which may be involved in plowing sand with the sand plow system 28 is shown in FIG. 7. For example, upon observing sand accumulation on the rails 12 in front of the locomotive 10, the operator may activate a switch from a control stand in the locomotive 10 to initiate the lowering the adjustable plows 34 to the lowered position 40, according to a first block 100. Activation of the switch may trigger a series of pneumatic relays which may send air to the actuator 56 causing it to lower the adjustable plows 34, although other triggering mechanisms may also be used. The operator may select one of two separate switches in the locomotive 10 to initiate the lowering of either the adjustable plows 34 on the front end 30 or the adjustable plows 34 on the back end 32 depending on which end of the locomotive 10 is moving in the forward direction. With this switch configuration, the other locomotives in the consist will not lower the appropriate set of adjustable plows 34 unless separately activated by their own switch. Alternatively, the operator may be provided with one switch which may send a trainline request to all of the locomotives in the consist via a connecting unit, such as a 27 pin multi-unit cable. In response to the trainline request, each locomotive in the consist may then lower the adjustable plows 34 that are facing the forward direction. In any event, once lowered, the bottom edges 62 of the adjustable plows 34 may be placed in contact with the rails 12 for sweeping action.

The set of fixed plows 36 may then push the bulk of the sand out of the way (blocks 110 and 120). For example, if the sand in front of the locomotive 10 is piled high enough (i.e., above 150 millimeters), the fixed front plows 42 may remove an upper portion or layer of sand (block 110), and the fixed rear plow 44 may remove a lower portion or layer of sand that is beneath the upper layer (block 120). The remaining sand left by the fixed plows 36 may then be swept off of the rails 12 by the adjustable plows 34 according to a next block 130. However, in situations where the sand is piled lower than the height of the fixed front plows 42, sand may accumulate in front of the fixed rear plow 44. If the sand piles up high enough in front of the fixed rear plow 44, the sand may eventually be collected and removed by the fixed front plows 42. In this way, the fixed front plows 42 and the fixed rear plow 44 may manage each other's loading.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The teachings of the present disclosure may find industrial applicability in a variety of settings such as, but not limited to, rail operations. The sand plow system disclosed herein may be attached to a front end and a back end of a locomotive to assist in removing sand from the rails. The sand plow system includes a set of rigid and heavy fixed plows for removing the bulk of the sand, as well as a set of vertically adjustable plows for removing any residual sand on the rails left behind by the fixed plows. To optimize the ability of the sand plow system to move the sand off of the rails, the fixed and adjustable plows disclosed herein may be oriented at a sweep angle (A) that is equal to or greater than the angle of repose (a) of the sand through which it is plowing. Other advantageous features of the sand plow system of the present disclosure include a curl on the top of the plows to assist in pushing the sand down the plows and off to the sides of the rails, as well as replaceable and wearable panels on the adjustable plows that may be flipped and/or replaced as maintenance requires. It is expected that the technology disclosed herein may find industrial applicability in a range of areas, particularly in train systems that operate in desert or sandy environments. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sand plow system for a locomotive configured to move with respect to rails, comprising: an adjustable plow configured for vertical adjustment between a lowered position in which the adjustable plow is in contact with the rails and a raised position in which the adjustable plow is suspended above the rails; and a fixed plow disposed axially forward of the adjustable plow with respect to a longitudinal axis of the locomotive, the fixed plow being vertically elevated above the rails by a distance of less than 150 millimeters.
 2. The sand plow system of claim 1, wherein the sand plow system includes a set of the adjustable plows.
 3. The sand plow system of claim 2, wherein the sand plow system includes a set of the fixed plows.
 4. The sand plow system of claim 3, wherein the set of the fixed plows comprises two fixed front plows disposed axially forward of and vertically higher than a fixed rear plow spanning laterally across the forward-facing end of the locomotive, and wherein each of the two fixed front plows are disposed vertically above one of the rails.
 5. The sand plow system of claim 4, wherein a bottom edge of the fixed rear plow is vertically elevated above the rails by a distance of between about 64 millimeters and less than 150 millimeters.
 6. The sand plow system of claim 5, wherein the fixed rear plow includes a first panel and a second panel joined at a junction to form a V-shape.
 7. The sand plow system of claim 6, wherein each of the first panel, the second panel, and the two fixed front plows are angled with respect to one of the rails to define a sweep angle (θ) of between about 30° and about 45°.
 8. The sand plow system of claim 7, wherein the sweep angle (θ) is about 32.5°.
 9. The sand plow system of claim 7, wherein each of the two fixed front plows and the fixed rear plow include an upper portion and a curl extending laterally across the upper portion.
 10. The sand plow system of claim 7, wherein the set of the adjustable plows includes two adjustable plows each being disposed over one of the rails.
 11. The sand plow system of claim 10, wherein each of the two adjustable plows are angled with respect to one of the rails to define a sweep angle (θ) of between about 30° and about 45°.
 12. The sand plow system of claim 11, wherein the sweep angle (θ) of each of the two adjustable plows is about 37.5°.
 13. The sand plow system of claim 11, wherein each of the two adjustable plows includes an upper portion and a curl extending laterally across the upper portion.
 14. The sand plow system of claim 13, wherein each of the two adjustable plows includes a bottom portion and a replaceable panel configured for removable attachment to the bottom portion, and wherein the replaceable panel is substantially flat and extends downwardly from the bottom portion for contact with the rails in the lowered position.
 15. The sand plow system of claim 14, wherein the replaceable panel is formed from polyurethane.
 16. A locomotive configured to move with respect to rails, comprising: a chassis; a plurality of wheels mounted to the chassis and configured to ride along the rails; an engine generally associated with the wheels to drive the wheels; and a sand plow system attached to at least one of a front end and a back end of the locomotive and comprising an adjustable plow configured for vertical adjustment between a lowered position in which the adjustable plow is in contact with the rails and a raised position in which the adjustable plow is suspended above the rails, and a fixed plow disposed axially forward of the adjustable plow with respect to a longitudinal axis of the locomotive, the fixed plow being vertically elevated above the rails by a distance of less than 150 millimeters.
 17. The locomotive of claim 16, wherein the sand plow system includes a set of the adjustable plows and a set of the fixed plows, and wherein the set of the fixed plows includes a fixed rear plow spanning laterally across the locomotive and having a bottom edge vertically elevated above the rails by a distance of less than 150 millimeters, and fixed front plows disposed axially forward of the rear fixed plow with respect to the longitudinal axis.
 18. The locomotive of claim 17, wherein each of the adjustable plows, each of the fixed front plows, and the fixed rear plow include an upper portion and a curl extending laterally across the upper portion.
 19. The locomotive of claim 17, wherein the set of the adjustable plows are adapted to vertically adjust to the lowered position in response to a trainline request sent through a 27 pin multi-unit cable.
 20. A method for plowing sand on rails in front of a locomotive with a sand plow system attached to a forward-facing end of the locomotive, comprising: lowering a set of adjustable plows to a lowered position in which the adjustable plows are in contact with the rails; removing a portion of the sand with a set of fixed plows disposed axially forward of the set of adjustable plows with respect to a longitudinal axis of the locomotive, the set of fixed plows being vertically elevated above the rails by a distance of less than 150 millimeters; and removing a remaining portion of the sand on the rails with the set of adjustable plows in the lowered position. 